Paris: city of love, city of light, capital of France. Located on the Seine River, Paris has long lured travelers with its enchanting architecture, world-class museums, sprawling boulevards, and decadent cuisine. Wide boulevards mingle with tiny old world avenues and alleys with excellent bakeries waiting to be discovered. Gardens and vast squares ringed with cafes surprise walkers as they turn corners. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, and other landmarks are reminders of the elegance and power of the city and are ripe for exploration my newcomers.

French food is defined by high quality ingredients, rich sauces, and careful execution of classic dishes. Breakfast is the time of day for pastries: they’re fresh out of the oven and many Parisians start their day with a simple croissant and coffee. Traditionally, lunch was a two-hour, three-course meal and a break in the workday, but shorter lunch breaks are becoming more common and you can get sandwiches or slices of quiche from bakeries at lunch as well as quick full meals from cafeterias. The evening meal is still often three courses: soup or an appetizer, a main plate, and a dessert (often a simple selection of fresh fruit) or cheese plate.

You’ll find a few types of street food in Paris. Crepes and hot dogs are the most common. Yes, hot dogs. Frankfurters on the streets of Paris are stuffed into fresh lengths of baguettes, thus you’ll find the best ones at stands labeled boulangerie (bakery), as this provides reassurance the bread is homemade and fresh.

Crepes are street food and restaurant fare in Paris. You can stop into a restaurant and get one so stuffed or drizzled in chocolate that you need a knife and for to eat it or you can stop on the street for something to eat on the go. Look for stands where the crepes are made to order and then gobble up your cheese crepe as the fresh, hot cheese attempts to escape the bottom of the crepe. Don’t worry about looking graceful, just enjoy.

The Champs-Elysees, marked by the Arc de Triomphe at one end and Place de la Concorde at the other, is a grand boulevard luxury shops, stylish boutiques, and cafes with outdoor seating on the wide sidewalks. Dress up and waltz along the avenue doing your best to appear French while browsing the luxury items at Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Elysee Palace. Smell the perfumes and take in the array of colors of cosmetics at the flagship store for the Sephora chain, perhaps you’ll find a little something refreshing to put in your suitcase.

To embrace Parisian life, a bit of food shopping is necessary. Discover the makings of a picnic, snack, or fine meal while browsing pastry shops, bakeries, butchers, delis, and more. The French still enjoy shopping slowly, purchasing the best quality ingredients from each vendor. Take your time; spend a morning strolling and gathering ingredients (and maybe sampling a few items along the way).

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